West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce has made his first signing of the summer with the capture of Argentina striker Mauro Zarate from Velez Sarsfield. The 27-year-old has signed a three-year contract, with the option of a further year, as Allardyce strengthens his forward options after a troubled 2013/14 campaign in that department for the Hammers.
"My reaction is that I am very happy to be at West Ham," said the forward in a press release. The Hammers' big-money buy last summer, Andy Carroll, spent half of the campaign on the sidelines through injury and left Allardyce short of options up front and then, on his return, the English international only scored two goals.
Allardyce, however, has wasted no time in finding support for Carroll with the deal for Zarate. It will be Zarate's second taste of top-flight football in England having played on loan for Birmingham City for four months in 2008, scoring four goals in 14 appearances, but he was unable to prevent the Blues from being relegated at the end of that season.
"This is a new chance for me and I want to play," Zarate, who scored 20 goals in 35 matches in all competitions for Velez last season, added. "I think I played well for Velez this season and that was important for me.
"I had some good team-mates and they helped to make it a fantastic season for me. I know English football from my time at Birmingham and I hope I will play well and reach the highest possible level."
Source: FIFA.com